Such changes, potentially affecting the way students are chosen for their second year of study, could undermine efforts to boost the number of medical professionals who come from traditionally under-represented groups, they fear.
"We’re concerned introducing a cap could stunt any potential gains in trying to make a health workforce that’s equitable," Te Oranga ki Otakou president Isaac Smiler said.
His group is one of 11 student associations that have declared their opposition to proposed changes to the university’s Mirror on Society policy.
The policy is designed to create a health workforce that better reflects society by promoting selection of some students through affirmative pathways such as Maori, Pasifika and rural.
Mr Smiler said the intention to adjust the policy by bringing in caps was one area of concern and lack of consultation so far was another.
However, dean of the Otago Medical School Rathan Subramaniam said discussions were at an early stage and there was not yet a formal proposal for change.
A discussion document was presented to the university’s medical admissions committee last week.
"If, at the end of initial discussions, any change to formal regulations is to be considered, that will be subject to the normal university procedures, including opportunities for consultation," Prof Subramaniam said.
The university was extremely proud of its Mirror on Society policy, he said.
"This policy has led to record numbers of Maori and Pasifika students entering the professional programmes in the health sciences division. In light of that success ... the university is currently considering the desirability of updating the regulations to better reflect the policy ... and to enhance transparency."
Otago University Medical Students’ Association president Anu Kaw said students did not know what was driving proposed changes.
"We’re not sure why there’s this urgency to fix a policy that is not broken."
Mr Smiler, a third-year medical student at Otago, said he wanted to make sure proper processes were undertaken.
"A decision that will impact on Maori health outcomes for decades surely warrants consultation with appropriate Maori voices."
Miss Kaw expressed the same concern about Pacific voices.
The 11 student associations issued a collective statement that raised similar themes.
"We hold considerable concerns about what is being proposed and what this means for students."
The associations argued any caps should reflect the aim of "creating a health workforce that reflects the population it serves".
Prof Subramaniam said the university would continue to strive to deliver a health workforce representative of the make-up of the population.
Students applying for the medicine programme in 2021 would not be affected by any changes to the policy.
Comments
Admission should be based on blind merit: not race, gender or religion or some other attribute you are born with. Otherwise you degrade the whole system and allow 'second' best to come through. I want to be treated by the great doctor, not someone who got in because of some good intention, feel good factor.
When I go to the doctor or any other professional service, I want to know they have that position because they are amongst the best, most capable, skilled, knowledgeable and task focused persons available, NOT because of the configuration of their genitals, colour of their skin or family background.
Gaining a position should be based on a students demonstration of commitment, work ethic and natural talent, nothing else. These abilities and attitudes should be nurtured before tertiary studies commence.
The Mirror on Society policy is just one example of postmodernist ideology at work within our university, that dumbs down our professions based on victim class identification. The problem with victim classes is that it fosters entitlement rather than skill and service.
History has shown us the danger of victimhood and entitlement. People with these values initiated the greatest calamities of the 20th century, yet we foster it within our schools, with the best of intentions, of course,
The way the Mirror on Society policy is actioned shows the hypocrisy it is founded on as no actions are taken to fix the gender imbalance in teaching nor nursing.
It is a dangerous political policy.
Can we ever hope to combat inequality by promoting inequality?
Mr Smiler appears to have completely misunderstood the purpose of a taxpayer-funded "health workforce".
Law schools, Medical schools and Vet schools have decile 9 and 10 pupils over-represented.
From a study on this issue it was found that : Among the 16,000 students accepted into professional law, medicine or engineering courses over the past five years, 60 per cent came from the highest third of household incomes, and just 6 per cent from the lowest third.
Children of professionals have a massive advantage in gaining admittance and go to schools with more resources and a learning cutlure.
It is only fair to balance out the odds rather than carry on with this inequality.
Remember Otago Engineer, the lowest third does NOT have a barrier as a tertiary student: student loans and student assistance exist and benefit such students disproportionally. So money at uni is not the barrier. Schools in the lower decile areas receive MORE government funding per student- so that is not a restraining factor. They have more help than I ever had being in the lower decile side of things years ago. One can not force someone into a profession- opportunities abound, it is what you make of them.